US3794035A - Suction system for skin treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

A power operated vacuum pump unit has a chamber connected to a vacuum pump maintained under negative pressure. There are four separate shut-off valves all connected to the chamber in each of which a fixed pressure is pre-set at amounts differing one from another, all of which are accessible from one side of a housing for the operating unit. There are a series of tubes having one end connected to each of the respective shut-off valves. Each tube is adapted at its other end to receive a glass or plastic suction applicator. Intermediate opposite ends of each tube is a transparent hollow spherical container having a beaded extension on each of two opposite sides for sealed engagement with a section of the respective tubing. In each spherical container is a mass of medical gauze serving as a filter for dirt laden liquids passing from the applicator end to the chamber.

Description

United States'Patentn r 51 Feb. 26, 1974 SUCTION SYSTEM FOR SKIN TREATMENT [76] Inventor: Natalie S. Brenner, 5514 Wilshire Pnmary grammar-Charles Rosenbaum Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90036 [5 ABSTRACT [22] Filed: 1972 A power operated vacuum pump unit has a chamber [21] Appl. No.: 232,581 connected to a vacuum pump maintained under negative pressure. There are four separate shut-off valves all connected to the chamber in each of which a fixed [52] [1.8. CI. 128/300 pressure is preset at amounts differing one from [51] Int. Cl A61m 1/00 other a" of which are accessible from one i of a [53] Fleld of Search 128/33-40, 276-278, housing for the Operating unit There are a series of 128/ 297-300 tubes having one end connected to each of the respective shut-off valves. Each tube is adapted at its other [56] References C'ted end to receive a glass or plastic suction applicator. 1n-

UNITED STATES PATENTS termediate opposite ends of each tube is a transparent 3,302,636 2/1967 Clemetson 128/300 hollow pherical ontainer having a eaded ex ension 1,547,562 7/1925 Byrd 128/276 on each of two opposite sides for sealed engagement ,73 0/19 9 Naibertw 128/297 with a section of the respective tubing. In each spheri- 2,142,689 1/1939 Emerson 128/297 container i a mass f di l gauze serving as 3 3,066,672 12/1962 Crosby, Jr. et a1. 128/276 filter for dirt laden liquids passing from the applicator 3,224,434 12/1965 Molomut et a1. 128/276 end to the chamber 3,315,665 4/1967 MacLeod 128/299 3,665,682 5/1972 Ciavattoni et a1. 128/278 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Pmmzmww 3.794 .035

sum 2 or 2 I SUCTION SYSTEM FOR SKIN TREATMENT When a mechanical device employing suction is applied to body tissue such as the skin on the face and neck consideration must be given to the character of the particular individual who is being treated and also to an understanding that generally speaking treatment which is long and continuous is more beneficial than treatment which is thorough but harsh because of being too rapid. Although treatment is the primary objective, avoidance of ultimate damage to the skin is the requisite.

Some skin conditions are quite stubborn to treatment by customary massage, use of astringents, and comparable treatment. A mechanical device which can kneed the tissues and at the same time remove surplus loose dirt and skin is highly advantageous andthe practice has been prevalent for a considerable length of time.

, Because such treatments of the skin must be undertaken with care an appreciable amount of skill has been necessary for proper results and this has meant the training of the individual assigned to use of the mechanical outfit. There is of course the ever present possibility of human error dispite the training of the individual and as a consequence mechanical devices which do not have a built in guard against mal-treatment of the subject have not been entirely accepted. This circumstance has been one of increasing importance as the result of a current tendency toward making devices fullproof against mishandling thereby to insure the user to a greater degree against liability. The problem takes on increased importance as a greater number of people enter the field each requiring a greater or lesser amount of training depending upon particular individual ability to apply skill.

In addition because such machines must be equipped to handle waste material such as superfulous flesh, lotions, soaps, and detergents great care is needed to prevent those things acting as contaminents from interferring with the continued and efiicient operation of the machine.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved power actuated facial applicator'which is versatile in its performance in that means are provided for selecting a source of vacuum power suited to a particular condition and which will not deviate from the selection once it has been made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new' and improved power actuated facial applicator which comprehends a simple means for dividing the suction power into units of different preset vacuum pressure located in a readily accessible place where, if necessary, the operator can switch easily from one to another as conditions change.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved power actuated facial applicator equipped with a simple disposable filter means capable of preventing waste material from reaching the operating mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved power actuated facial applicator wherein controls are greatly simplified and wherein the filter changing technique is of such a simple and direct nature that need for a change is readily signalled by a visible indicator or condition and wherein once the change is indicated as being necessary the changing of the filtering part can readily be made with a virtual minimum interruption in the continued operation of the device.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the device equipped with one complete tube and applicator.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on theline 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one of the shut-off valves taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filter device taken on theline 5 5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of facial contacting applicator.

FIG. 6A is an elevational view taken on the line 6A 6A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of facial contact applicator.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another form of facial contacting applicator.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown ahousing 10 within which is located apparatus for creating vacuum pressure, details of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. On a front wall 11 of the housing are shut-offvalves 12, 13, 14 and 15. Apanel 16 shows on its face the different vacuum pressures applicable to the respective valves as being 8, l0, l5 and 20 pounds per square inch. A switch 17 is provided for turning the apparatus on and off, there being anon-electric vacuum gauge 18 and apilot light 19 also accessible on the front wall 11. Anextension cord 20 is provided with a conventional plug 21, to plug into a source of electric power.

Each of the shut-off valves is provided with anextension 22 to which there is adapted to be attached asection 23 of a tube indicated generally by thereference character 24.

As shown in connection with the shut-offvalve 15 thetube 24 has asecond section 25 at afree end 26 of which is attached an individual suction applicator, customarily made of either glass or plastic, indicated at 27.

Applicators of various descriptions are adapted to be secured to thefree end 26 of therespective tube 24, in appreciable variety. Theapplicator 27 has a relatively largeannular end edge 30 andapplicator 31, as in FIGS. 6 and 6a has a relatively elongatedflat end edge 32 providing anarrow orifice 33 intermediate elongated portions of theend edge 32 as shown in FIG. 6a.

which communicates with acentral opening 39 in the second section of thetube 24.

In FIG. 7 is shown an elongated applicator 40 provided with an annular end edge 41 smaller in diameter than theend edge 32 of theapplicator 31. Anextension 42 fits into thefree end 26 in sealed condition by use of thebeaded end 43. Achamber 44 in the applicator 40 is in communication with a passage 45 in turn in communication with acentral opening 46 of thesection 23 of the tube.

Again in FIG. 8 is shown anapplicator 47 which is of elongated bent configuration provided wtih anelbow 48 terminating in arounded end edge 49. An extension 50 at the opposite end provided with abeaded end 51 is in sealed engagement with thefree end 26 of thesection 23 of tube. Achamber 52 in theapplicator 47 is in communication with apassage 53, in turn in communication with acentral opening 54 in thesection 23 of the tube.

Of special note is the structure shown in FIG. 5 which in the chosen embodiment consists of a hollowbulbous member 55 providing acentral chamber 56. On opposite sides of the hollowbulbous member 55 areextensions 57 and 58, theextension 57 terminating in a beadedend 59 andextension 58 terminating in a beadedend 60. Theextension 57 is in sealed engagement with thesection 25 of thetube 24 and theextension 58 is in field engagement with thesection 23 of thetube 24. A typical location is shown in FIG. 1.

Within thecentral chamber 56 of thebulbous member 55 is amass 61 of crumpled gauze which serves as a filter for fluid passing through thetube 24. To insert the mass of gauze the bulbous member is disconnected from thesections 23 and 25 oftube 24 and the mass is poked out of thechamber 56 by employment of an appropriate conventional elongated rod, after which a freshnew mass 61 of gauze can be poked into thecentral chamber 56 by reverse operation.

When more than onetube 24 is available in place on the respective shut-off valve there may be provided arack 62 on the front wall 11 of thehousing 10 havingslots 63, 64, 65 and 66 for reception of one or another of the applicators.

The applicators and also the hollow bulbous member may be of glass or in the alternative may be preferably of a transparent synthetic plastic resin material which is of such character that it can be sterilized in a conventional sterilizing device.

The operating components of the device are mounted on abase 70 within thehousing 10. Included in the operating components is anelectric motor 71 connected to avacuum pump 72 by means of aflywheel 73 driven by a belt 74, the flywheel acting through agear reducer 75 to drive thepump 72. Acylindrical container 76 houses avacuum chamber 77, the chamber being connected to thevacuum pump 72 bytubing 78 havingbranches 79 and 80 on opposite sides of the vacuum pump. Another length oftubing 81 connects thevacuum chamber 77 with anupper manifold 82 which has asingle chamber 83 therein.Individual passages 84, four in number in the embodiment illustrated, interconnects theupper manifold 82 with a lower manifold 85 containing achamber 86.

The shut-offvalves 12, 13, 14 and 15 each have apassageway 94 for interconnecting the respective shutoff valves with thechamber 86 in the lower manifold 85. In order to have each shutoff valve deliver a different vacuum pressure there is provided anorifice block 95 intermediate each valve such as thevalve 15 and thepassage way 94. In theorifice block 95 is a fixedorifice 96 which completes the passageway between thechamber 86 and the valve. The fixed orifices for therespective valves 12, 13, 14 and 15 are of different sizes so as to thereby establish a fixed vacuum pressure for each valve which differs one from another. For example a 5 pound pressure may be established for shut-offvalve 12, a 10 pound pressure for shut-off valve 13, a 15 pound pressure for shut-offvalve 14 and a 20 pound pressure for shut-offvalve 15, these pressures being set irrespective of the vacuum pressure which may be present in thechamber 86 of the lower manifold 85, which conveniently is maintained at a pressure higher than the highest vacuum pressure which is available in thevalve 15. As a consequence, by marking the vacuum pressure for each of the valves the operator need do no more than attach thetube 24 to the shut-off valve having the desired fixed vacuum pressure and the facial contacting applicator will then operate on that particular selected pressure and no other, until the tube is shifted to some other shut-off valve.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of letters Patent is:

1. An applicator for the skin comprising a housing,

a chamber in the housing in which a vacuum is generated,

a plurality of shut-off valves on the housing and in communication with the chamber,

means in communication with said valves establishing a different vacuum pressure for each of said valves,

and a flexible tube having one end adapted for sealing engagement with a selected one of said shut-off valves and filter means in each tube intermediate opposite ends thereof.

2. An applicator as in claim 1 wherein said filter means comprises a hollow bulbous member having oppositely directed extensions with beaded ends, said ends being adapted to sealably engage an adjacent end of a respective section of said tube, and a mass of relatively loosely compacted fibrous material releasably contained within said bulbous member whereby to serve as a filter for fluid material drawn through the tube into said chamber.

3. An applicator as in claim 1 wherein said means for establishing different vacuum pressures comprises a vacuum pump, a vacuum chamber in communication with said pump, a passage in communication between each valve and said chamber, and a restricted orifice in each passage, each said orifice having the capacity for passing air therethrough differing from every other passage whereby to make available at the respective valves a plurality of different fixed vacuum pressures.

4. A vacuum pressure applicator having a plurality of valves with a different fixed vacuum pressure available at each valve, said applicator comprising an electric motor, a vacuum pump, a manifold common to all said valves, a vacuum line connecting said pump and said manifold, a separate passageway between each valve and said manifold, and a constantly open restricted orifice in each passage in which flow is always in the same direction, the flow capacity of each orifice being different from every other orifice whereby to make available at the respective valves fixed vacuum pressures differing one from another while said motor and said pump operate at a constant rate, each said valve including a manual shut-off means acting independently of all the remaining shut-off means whereby any selected one of said valves is adapted to be operated at its individual flow capacity while the remaining valves remain inoperative.

-5. A vacuum pressure applicator having a plurality of valves with a different fixed vacuum pressure available at each valve, said applicator comprising an electric motor, a vacuum pump, a manifold common to all said valves, a vacuum line connecting said pump to said manifold, a separate passageway between each valve and said'rnanifold, and a constantly open restricted orifice in each passage in which flow is always in the same direction, the flow capacity of each orifice being different from every other orifice whereby to make available at the respective valves fixed vacuum pressures differing one from another while said motor and said pump operate at a constant rate, a separate container intermediate the vacuum pump and the manifold a vacuum line from said pump to said container and a vacuum line from said container to said manifold.

.6. A vacuum pressure applicator having a plurality of valves with a different fixed vacuum pressure available at each valve, said applicator comprising an electric motor, a vacuum pump, a manifold common to all said valves, a vacuum line connecting said pump and said manifold, a separate passageway between each valve and said manifold, and a constantly open restricted orifice in each passage in which flow is always in the same direction, the flow capacity of each orififice being different from every other orifice whereby to make avail able at the respective valves fixed vacuum pressures differing one from another while said motor and said pump operate at a constant rate, a second manifold intermediate the first identified manifold and the vacuum pump and a plurality of passages interconnecting said manifolds.

7. A vacuum pressure applicator as inclaim 5 wherein there is a second manifold connected to the vacuum line from said container to said first identified manifold and a plurality of passages between said manifolds.

Claims (7)

1. An applicator for the skin comprising a housing, a chamber in the housing in which a vacuum is generated, a plurality of shut-off valves on the housing and in communication with the chamber, means in communication with said valves establishing a different vacuum pressure for each of said valves, and a flexible tube having one end adapted for sealing engagement with a selected one of said shut-off valves and filter means in each tube intermediate opposite ends thereof.

2. An applicator as in claim 1 wherein said filter means comprises a hollow bulbous member having oppositely directed extensions with beaded ends, said ends being adapted to sealably engage an adjacent end of a respective section of said tube, and a mass of relatively loosely compacted fibrous material releasably contained within said bulbous member whereby to serve as a filter for fluid material drawn through the tube into said chamber.

3. An applicator as in claim 1 wherein said means for establishing different vacuum pressures comprises a vacuum pump, a vacuum chamber in communication with said pump, a passage in communication between each valve and said chamber, and a restricted orifice in each passage, each said orifice having the capacity for passing air therethrough differing from every other passage whereby to make available at the respective valves a plurality of different fixed vacuum pressures.

4. A vacuum pressure applicator having a plurality of valves with a different fixed vacuum pressure available at each valve, said applicator comprising an electric motor, a vacuum pump, a manifold common to all said valves, a vacuum line connecting said pump and said manifold, a separate passageway between each valve and said manifold, and a constantly open restricted orifice in each passage in which flow is always in the same direction, the flow capacity of each orifice being different from every other orifice whereby to make available at the respective valves fixed vacuum pressures differing one from another while said motor and said pump operate at a constant rate, each said valve including a manual shut-off means acting independently of all the remaining shut-off means whereby any selected one of said valves is adapted to be operated at its individual flow capacity while the remaining valves remain inoperative.

5. A vacuum pressure applicator having a plurality of valves with a different fixed vacuum pressure available at each valve, said applicator comprising an electric motor, a vacuum pump, a manifold common to all said valves, a vacuum line connecting said pump to said manifold, a separate passageway between each valve and said manifold, and a constantly open restricted orifice in each passage in which flow is always in the same direction, the flow capacity of each orifice being different from every other orifice whereby to make available at the respective valves fixed vacuum pressures differing one from another while said motor and said pump operate at a constant rate, a separate container intermediate the vacuum pump and the manifold a vacuum line from said pump to said container and a vacuum line from said container to said manifold.

6. A vacuum pressure applicator having a plurality of valves with a different fixed vacuum pressure available at each valve, sAid applicator comprising an electric motor, a vacuum pump, a manifold common to all said valves, a vacuum line connecting said pump and said manifold, a separate passageway between each valve and said manifold, and a constantly open restricted orifice in each passage in which flow is always in the same direction, the flow capacity of each orififice being different from every other orifice whereby to make available at the respective valves fixed vacuum pressures differing one from another while said motor and said pump operate at a constant rate, a second manifold intermediate the first identified manifold and the vacuum pump and a plurality of passages interconnecting said manifolds.

7. A vacuum pressure applicator as in claim 5 wherein there is a second manifold connected to the vacuum line from said container to said first identified manifold and a plurality of passages between said manifolds.

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